The Bum's College Football Bowl Games Rated Plays, Trends, News Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

Parlay Wager - 1 Parlay of 4 Teams

NFL - 12/21/15
[331] TOTAL (DETROIT vrs NEW ORLEANS) o51½ 1.91

Game Date: 12-21-2015 17:30:00
NFL - 12/21/15
[332] NEW ORLEANS -2½ 1.91

Game Date: 12-21-2015 17:30:00
CFB - 12/21/15
[212] SOUTH FLORIDA +3 1.91

Game Date: 12-21-2015 11:30:00
CFB - 12/21/15
[212] TOTAL (WESTERN KENTUCKY vrs SOUTH FLORIDA) u68 1.91
Game Date: 12-21-2015 11:30:00

$50 To Win $614.17

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF
Long Sheet

Bowl Season

Tuesday, December 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AKRON (7 - 5) vs. UTAH ST (6 - 6) - 12/22/2015, 3:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH ST is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) after a bye week over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOLEDO (9 - 2) vs. TEMPLE (10 - 3) - 12/22/2015, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TOLEDO is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in all games this season.
TOLEDO is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in all lined games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

---------------------

NCAAF
Short Sheet

Bowl Season

Tues - Dec, 22

Akron at Utah State, 3:30 ET
Akron: 5-1 ATS after 1 or more consecutive straight up wins
Utah St: 19-25 ATS after 2 or more consecutive losses against the spread

Toledo at Temple, 7:00 ET
Toledo: 0-7 ATS after allowing 6.25 or more yards/play in previous game
Temple: 44-23 ATS off 1 or more consecutive unders

--------------------------

NCAAF

Bowl Season

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report

Tuesday, December 22

3:30 PM
AKRON vs. UTAH STATE
Akron is 8-14-1 ATS in its last 23 games
Akron is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Utah State's last 10 games
Utah State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games

7:00 PM
TEMPLE vs. TOLEDO
Temple is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Toledo
Temple is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Toledo's last 11 games
Toledo is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games

------------------------

NCAAF
Dunkel

Akron @ Utah State

Game 213-214
December 22, 2015 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Akron
79.057
Utah State
82.143
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah State
by 3
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah State
by 7
48
Dunkel Pick:
Akron
(+7); Under

Toledo @ Temple

Game 215-216
December 22, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toledo
94.156
Temple
92.647
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toledo
by 1 1/2
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Temple
by 2
51 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Toledo
(+2); Under

----------------------

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec 22

Mountain West teams beat MAC teams in this bowl last three years, by 14-25-26 points; last MAC team to win here was Ohio (+2) in same matchup vs Utah State in 2011. Aggies allowed 11.7 ppg in winning its three bowls since then, by 26-7-15 points. Ohio won two of last three bowls (were underdog in all three); Bobcats are 8-1 this year, when allowing less than 41 points. Over last three years, MAC teams are 4-12 SU in bowls, MW teams 7-11. Average total in this bowl last five years was 59.

Boca Raton Bowl
Temple split its last six games after a 7-0 start; Owls are in first bowl since '11, their third since 1979- somehow coach Rhule is staying at Temple, which has to help here. AAC teams are 3-6 in bowl games in their existence, but none of those games were against MAC teams. Owls beat UMass of MAC 25-23 back in September (TY498-438). Toledo allowed 41+ points in last three bowls, but won two of the three; Rockets split their last four games after a 7-0 start- they have senior QB who started his career at Alabama.




NCAAF

Tuesday, December 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday's college football bowl games betting preview
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Under has gone 4-0 in Temple's last four non-conference games.


Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Game played at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Akron Zips vs. Utah State Aggies (-6.5, 47.5)

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL STORYLINES

1. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22 in Boise, Idaho may not have the desired warm weather location of most bowl games, but that doesn't matter to either Akron or Utah State. Both teams are just happy to be going bowling but for different reasons. This is just the second bowl appearance ever for the Zips since becoming an FBS program in 1987 while the Aggies will be making a school-record fifth straight bowl appearance despite scuffling down the stretch.

2. Akron, which won its final four games to finish in a tie for second in the MAC East Division, lost to Memphis, 38-31, in its only previous bowl game, the 2005 Motor City Bowl. The Zips have steadily improved under fourth-year head coach Terry Bowden, going 1-11 in his first season and then 5-7 in back-to-back years before finishing 7-5 this year. "The thing that's beginning to hit us now it's time for us to go out and win a bowl -- not play a bowl, but win a bowl," Bowden told the Akron Beacon Journal.

3. Utah State looked like it might be headed to a more prestigious bowl game back in mid-October when it forced eight turnovers and stunned then No. 21-ranked Boise State, 52-26, to take over the Mountain Division lead in the Mountain West Conference. But the Aggies lost four of their final six games, including back-to-back road games at New Mexico (14-13) and Air Force (35-28), and ended up in a four-way tie for second place at 5-3 in the division behind the Falcons (6-2). This is the third time in five years that Utah State will play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, which is just a four-hour drive from campus in Logan, Utah.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Books opened Utah State -7 but that has moved to -6.5. The total is down to 47.5 from the opening 49.

INJURY REPORT:

Akron - RB D.J. Jones (Questionable, undisclosed).

Utah State - QB Kent Myers (Probable, shoulder), NT Travis Seefeldt (Out indefinitely, undisclosed).

WEATHER FORECAST: A small 20 percent chance of snow with temperatures in Boise in the mid-30s and wind blowing across the field at around six miles per hour.

ABOUT AKRON (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Senior running back Conor Hundley is the team's leading rusher with 883 yards and 10 touchdowns on 188 carries while sophomore quarterback Thomas Woodson has completed 53 percent of his passes for 2,034 yards,16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Senior wide receiver Imani Davis (46 receptions, 593 yards, 3 TDs) is the top receiver for the Zips, who run a spread offense. Akron's defense, which ranks third nationally in rushing defense (89.8 yards per game) and 17th in total defense (328.5), is led by senior linebacker Jatavis Brown, who was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the team with 108 tackles, including 17.5 for loss, and 10.5 sacks.

ABOUT UTAH STATE (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS, 9-3 O/U): The Aggies have arguably the two best linebackers in the Mountain West in 6-5, 250-pound senior Kyler Fackrell, who led the nation in fumble recoveries (five) and is considered an NFL prospect, and junior Nick Vigil, who ranks fifth in the nation in tackles (11.7 per game) and is only the player in the nation to have at least nine tackles in every game. Both Fackrell and Vigil were first team all-Mountain West picks while senior wide receiver Hunter Sharp, who had 60 receptions for 746 yards and eight touchdowns, was a second team choice. Sophomore quarterback Kent Myers passed for 1,470 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions and also rushed for 348 yards and three touchdowns, which ranked second on the team behind junior running back Devante Mays' 842 yards rushing.

TRENDS:

* Zips are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
* Aggies are 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Zips last five non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Aggies last four neutral site games.

CONSENSUS: Sixty-six percent of users are backing the Aggies.




Marmot Boca Raton Bowl

Game played at FAU Football Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida

Toledo Rockets vs. Temple Owls (-2.5, 49.5)

MARMOT BOCA RATON BOWL STORYLINES

1. Temple and Toledo had seasons that, more or less, mirrored each other, setting up an intriguing matchup at the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla. The Owls and Rockets each won their first seven games before stumbling a couple of times late in the year, capped by a defeat in their last game by each squad. Still, the strong campaigns created significant opportunities for the head coaches with Toledo's Matt Campbell bolting to take over Iowa State and Temple's Matt Rhule signing a six-year extension amid rumors that he could head elsewhere.

2. For much of the season, the Owls appeared destined for a New Year's Six bowl game, although there is still plenty on the line for Rhule's team. Temple was 2-10 two seasons ago and improved to 6-6 last year only to get left out of the postseason. "Hopefully our legacy will be that we can win 11 games," center Kyle Friend told reporters. "That has never been done before here."

3. The Rockets are seeking their first 10-win season since 2001, but must do it in former offensive coordinator Jason Candle's first game as head coach. "I have a chance to be the head football coach at a place that I love, and to be around the team that I love and the guys that I fought with and bled with for seven years here," said Candle, who likely would have been named offensive coordinator at Iowa State as part of Campbell's staff. "It's a no-brainer. It's an easy decision.” Candle already is familiar with Temple, which was in the Mid-American Conference (along with Toledo) from 2007-11.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Books opened this game as a Pick, but Temple is now -2.5. The total is down to 49.5 from the opening 51.

INJURY REPORT:

Toledo - LB Jaylen Coleman (Out for season, leg), QB Jalen Reese (Out for season, Achilles), TE Adam Kulon (Out for season, knee).

Temple - DL Jullian Taylor (Out indefinitely, undisclosed), DL Josian Bronson (Out for season, ankle).

WEATHER FORECAST: There is a 36 percent chance of rain with temperatures in the mid-70s and wind blowing across the field at around 10 miles per hour.

ABOUT TOLEDO (9-2 SU, 8-2-1 ATS, 3-8 O/U): The Rockets are one of the nation's more balanced teams, ranking in the top 35 nationally in points (34.7) and points against (21.1) with a strong rushing attack that averages 213.2 yards per game - tops in the MAC. “Both teams pay attention to running the ball,” Candle told reporters of his squad and the Owls. “To win and play well in November and December, you’ve got to be able to run the ball and stop the run, and I think both teams do a good job of that.” Kareem Hunt and Terry Swanson both have a chance to reach 1,000 rushing yards on the season with a big performance in Boca, while Phillip Ely (2,680 yards and 21 touchdown passes) hopes to maintain a solid run in which he has thrown five touchdowns and one interception over the last three outings.

ABOUT TEMPLE (10-3 SU, 9-4 ATS, 5-8 O/U): The Owls, who ended the regular season ranked No. 24 in both the coaches' poll and the College Football Playoff rankings, went 3-3 over their final six games - a run that included a close defeat to Notre Dame, a 21-point loss at USF and a disappointing 24-13 setback at Houston in the AAC title game. Robby Anderson was hardly to blame for the loss to Houston as he racked up season highs of 12 catches for 150 yards and recorded the team's only touchdown. Overall, though, Temple's best player is linebacker Tyler Matakevich, who said after winning the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive player: "I'm not the biggest, I'm the not fastest, but I push myself to prepare off the field, so when I step on the field, I can do things faster than other people. I can narrow down what plays teams might run just by the formations. I think that is a tribute to the coaches' putting me in the right situations."

TRENDS:

* Rockets are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Owls last four non-conference games.
* Owls are 1-4 ATS in their last five vs. MAC.
* Under is 6-0 in Owls last six games following a ATS loss.

CONSENSUS: Sixty-five percent of users are backing the Owls.

--------------------------

80 need-to-know betting notes for 80 college football bowl teams

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Tuesday, December 22

Akron Zips: One of the stingier defenses in the land, Akron held the opposition to 21 or fewer points in eight of the program’s final ten games while boasting a turnover differential of plus-8 on the season.

Utah State Aggies: Utah State head coach Matt Wells is a perfect 2-0 both SU and ATS the spread in bowl games, but be advised that his squad lost three of its final four regular season contest.

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl: Tuesday, December 22

Toledo Rockets: The Rockets have failed to cover the spread only two times over the team’s last 15 games. However, Toledo is currently receiving just 21 percent of the action heading into the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl.

Temple Owls: The Owls are 10-4 ATS over their last 14 games overall and should have plenty of motivation for this matchup considering the fact that the program hasn’t appeared in a bowl game in four years.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday's Bowl Tip Sheet
December 22, 2015


**Utah State vs. Akron**

-- Before Chuckie Keeton arrived in Logan, Utah State had been to six bowl games in the program’s history that dated back to 1892. With Keeton, the fifth-year senior quarterback, the Aggies are going to the postseason for the fifth straight year. The Houston product made his collegiate debut at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the season opener for Auburn on The Plains in 2011. It was the Tigers’ first game since beating Oregon in the BCS Championship Game. Keeton entered that environment as a true freshman and had his team ahead by 10 points with less than three minutes remaining.

-- Utah State would lose, however, when Gary Andersen’s team couldn’t stop AU’s offense and failed to secure an onside kick. Nevertheless, it was clear USU had a bright future with Keeton at the steering wheel. He would lead the Aggies to victories galore until suffering a second serious knee injury in Week 6 of his junior campaign. Until that point, Keeton had 56 career touchdown passes compared to only 13 interceptions. He also had 5,961 passing yards, 1,153 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs. Unfortunately, Keeton would sustain another season-ending knee injury in September of 2014. Then in Week 3 of this year, Keeton would injure his knee yet. On the bright side this time around, he has been able to return and helped orchestrate a comeback from a 20-point second-half deficit in a 31-27 home win over Nevada that locked up a fifth straight postseason trip.

-- USU coach Matt Wells hasn’t indicated whether or not Kent Myers or Keeton will get the starting nod against Akron at Tuesday’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise. I would think we will see both players. Keeton has connected on just 90-of-174 throws this season (51.7%) for 892 yards and three TDs compared to six interceptions. On the other hand, Myers has completed 107-of-179 attempts (59.8%) for 1,470 yards with a 14/3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Myers has rushed for 346 yards and three TDs, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Keeton has rushed 47 times for 182 yards and one TD with a 3.9 YPC average.

-- As of early this morning, most book had Utah State (6-6 straight up, 5-7 against the spread) listed as a six-point favorite with a total of 46 points. The Zips were +240 on the money line (risk $100 to win $240).

-- Utah State has lost four of its last six games, including the regular-season finale at home vs. BYU. The Cougars captured a 51-28 win as three-point road ‘chalk.’ The 79 combined points sailed ‘over’ the 51-point total. USU led 21-10 with less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter, but Bronco Mendenhall’s squad scored a pair of touchdowns to get back in front before halftime. Tanner Mangum hit a 72-yard bomb and a Keeton fumble led to a scoop-and-score TD. BYU recovered another fumble and blocked a second field goal en route to victory. The Aggies had more total offense (445-358), but critical mistakes resulted in their demise. In the losing effort, Keeton completed 20-of-45 throws for 243 yards and one TD without an interception. He also had a 52-yard TD run to open the game’s scoring.

-- Utah State’s Devante Mays has rushed for a team-high 842 yards and nine TDs. The juco transfer has a 5.5 YPC average. Lajuan Hunt has 331 rushing yards and five TDs, but he averages only 3.2 YPC. Hunter Sharp is the Aggies’ top wide receiver, hauling in 60 receptions for 746 yards and nine TDs.

-- Utah State’s defense ranks 22nd in the country in total defense and 14th in pass defense. This unit is led by junior LB Nick Vigil, who led the Mountain West with 140 tackles. Vigil also recorded 12.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, four QB hurries and one forced fumble.

-- Akron (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) has four in a row both SU and ATS, including back-to-back home wins over Buffalo (42-21) and Kent St. (20-0) by 41 combined points. The Zips’ defense allowed only 135 yards and forced three turnovers. Tommy Woodson threw for 140 yards and one TD without an interception. Woodson also ran 14 times for 84 yards, while Connor Hundley rushed for 98 yards and one TD on 22 totes.

-- Woodson, a third-year sophomore, took over as the starting QB in Week 3. He has connected on 53.2 percent of his passes for 2,034 yards with a 16/10 TD-INT ratio. Woodson has run for 556 yards and three TDs while averaging 4.7 YPC. Hundley has a team-best 893 rushing yards and TDs with a 4.7 YPC average.

-- Woodson’s favorite targets are Jerome Lane and Imani Davis. Lane has 35 catches for 750 yards and eight TDs, while Davis has 46 receptions for 593 yards and three TDs.

-- Akron’s defense is third in the nation against the run, allowing only 89.8 rushing yards per game. The Zips are 16th in the country in total defense (328.5 YPG).

-- Utah State has been a single-digit favorite only twice this year, going 1-1 both SU and ATS.

-- Akron has been an underdog seven times this year, compiling a 3-4 spread record with a pair of outright victories.

-- The ‘under’ is 7-5 overall for Akron.

-- After a pair of ‘unders’ to start the season, Utah State has seen the ‘over’ go on a 9-1 run.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Temple vs. Toledo**

-- Temple and Toledo are set to collide at the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday night. These schools are familiar with each other because the Owls spent 2007-2011 in the MAC. As of early this morning, most books had Temple installed as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 49.

-- Temple (10-3 SU, 9-4 ATS) has enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, winning 10 games for the first time since 1979. The Owls won the AAC East, beat eight opponents by double-digit margins, including Penn State, knocked off four bowl-bound foes and nearly upset Notre Dame. Then they were able to retain Matt Rhule for a fourth season after his name drew consideration from more than one Power Five school.

-- Temple has been a single-digit ‘chalk’ just once, losing outright at South Florida. The Owls’ only other defeat came in a true road game against Houston at the AAC Championship Game. The Cougars captured a 24-13 win over Temple as 5.5-point home favorites. In the losing effort, P.J. Walker threw for 287 yards and one TD, while Robby Anderson snared 12 catches for 150 yards.

-- Walker, the true junior QB who has started since early in his freshman year, has completed 56.9 percent of his throws for 2,736 yards with a 19/7 TD-INT ratio. For his career, Walker has a 52/30 TD-INT ratio, 7,137 passing yards, 841 rushing yards and eight rushing scores. His favorite target in 2015 has been Anderson, who has 64 receptions for 873 yards and seven TDs.

-- Temple junior RB Jahad Thomas enjoyed a breakout campaign, rushing for 1,257 yards and 17 TDs while averaging 4.7 YPC. He also has 22 catches for 216 yards and one TD.

-- Toledo (9-2 SU, 8-2-1 ATS) is looking for its first 10-win season since 2001. The Rockets will attempt to attain that goal with new head coach Jason Candle, who has been on the staff since 2009. Candle was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2012 and has now been given the head-coaching gig following Matt Campbell’s departure to Iowa St. earlier this month.

-- Toledo senior QB Phillip Ely has connected on 54.9 percent of his passes for 2,680 yards with a 21/10 TD-INT ratio. Corey Jones is Ely’s favorite target. The diminutive speedster has 52 receptions for 535 yards and four TDs. Cody Thompson has 33 catches for 706 yards and four TDs, while Alonzo Russell has 33 receptions for 586 yards and five TDs.

-- Junior RB Kareem Hunt leads the Rockets in rushing yards (894) and touchdowns (10) with a 5.5 YPC average. Terry Swanson has run for 870 yards and seven TDs while averaging 6.6 YPC, while Damion Jones-Moore has 404 rushing yards and five TDs while averaging 5.0 YPC.

-- Toledo has been an underdog twice, winning outright in both instances at Bowling Green (44-28) and at Arkansas (16-12). The Rockets have another Power Five win vs. Iowa St. (30-23 in overtime), in addition to scalps of bowl-bound foes like Arkansas St. (37-7) and Central Michigan (28-23).

-- Temple’s defense is led by senior LB Tyler Matakevich, who won the Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation’s top defensive player. Matakevich tallied 126 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five interceptions, five passes broken up and one QB hurry.

-- Temple ranks 16th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 19.2 PPG. The Owls are 17th in total defense and 20th against the run.

-- Toledo has won five of the last six head-to-head meetings against Temple, including a 36-13 win as eight-point road underdogs back in 2011.

-- The ‘under’ has cashed in three in a row to improve to 8-5 overall for Temple. The Owls’ games have averaged 49.9 PPG.

-- The ‘under’ is 8-3 overall for Toledo, which has seen its games average combined scores of 56.4 PPG.

-- Kickoff is slated for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

[StarDust Bum]

Bowl Tech Trends - Week 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

AKRON vs. UTAH STATE (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
Utags have won and covered last three years in bowls, with Matt Wells winning last two. USU did stumble down stretch, however, no covers last four, and 5-7 spread mark was worst since 2011. USU 3-5 as chalk this season. Akron bowling for first time since 2005 and closed this season with a rush, covering last four and seven of last eight.

Slight to Akron, based on recent trends.


TOLEDO vs. TEMPLE (Boca Raton Bowl)
Rockets 8-2-1 vs. line TY, Owls 9-4 vs. spread. Toledo 1-3 vs. line last four bowl appearances. Temple bowling for first time since 2011. Toledo has covered last six away from Glass Bowl. Rockets 10-6-1 vs. spread last 17 vs. non-MAC. American teams 2-4 vs. line in bowls last season.

Slight to Toledo, based on team trends.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday's Top Bowl Action
December 22, 2015


AKRON ZIPS (7-5) vs. UTAH STATE AGGIES (6-6)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium - Boise, ID
Kickoff: Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Utah State -6.5, Total: 47

Akron seeks its first ever bowl win on Tuesday when it clashes with Utah State on the blue turf in Boise for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

The Zips (7-5 ATS) lost their only postseason appearance in the 2005 Motor City Bowl by a 38-31 score to Memphis and are matched up with an Aggies team (5-7 ATS) that has three bowl wins in the past three years. But while Terry Bowden’s Akron squad is currently playing great football with four straight victories (SU and ATS), Matt Wells and his Utah State team has four consecutive ATS losses (1-3 SU).

However, the Aggies are 6-0 ATS under Wells after a bye week, and the Zips fall in the category of underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points with an excellent rushing defense (100 YPG or less) after allowing 1.5 YPC or less in their previous game going 49-19 ATS (72%) since 1992.

Injuries will not be a big factor for Tuesday's matchup, with only Akron RB D.J. Jones questionable with an undisclosed injury.

Akron's offense is not very potent with only 24.0 PPG and 366 total YPG, but it does hold the football for an average of 32:27 per game with a quality ground attack. The Zips have rushed for at least 210 yards in three straight contests to increase their season average to 172 rushing YPG on 4.2 YPC.

Senior RB Conor Hundley leads the team with 883 rushing yards (4.7 YPC) and 10 TD, but hasn't rushed for 100 yards in six straight contests. Senior RB Donnell Alexander has only 476 rushing yards (4.9 YPC) this year, but has racked up 216 yards on 37 carries (5.8 YPC) with 2 TD over the past three games. Akron needs to pound the football, because it doesn't throw very well with a horrendous 49.7% completion pct. for 194 YPG and 6.8 YPA.

Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson has completed only 53% of his throws for 2,034 yards (7.3 YPA), 16 TD and 10 INT this season, but has 5 TD and no picks over the past two games. The 240-pound Woodson is also a valuable runner with 544 rushing yards (4.6 YPC) and 3 TD this season.

The Zips are propelled by a top-notch defense that allows only 21.5 PPG on 329 YPG (4.8 yards per play), including a mere 16.3 PPG on 304 total YPG (4.6 YPP) in the past three games. While the passing defense allows a subpar 239 YPG on 6.6 YPA, the run-stop unit is downright nasty in holding teams to 90 YPG (3rd in nation) on 2.8 YPC.

In the past five contests, Akron opponents have rushed for a pathetic 67 YPG on 2.5 YPC. The Zips also know how to strip the football with 25 takeaways this season, including 12 during their four-game win streak. With the Aggies turning the ball over 13 times in the past six contests, Akron will certainly stay aggressive.

Utah State's offense is better than its Tuesday opponent, averaging 29.7 PPG on 371 total YPG. The team has good balance with 168 rushing YPG (4.5 YPC) and 203 passing YPG (6.8 YPA). Oft-injured Aggies QB Chuckie Keeton (61 career TD passes) is finally healthy, and he will try to close out his career in style. Keeton's last bowl game actually occurred in Boise when he led Utah State to a 41-15 pounding of Toledo with 321 total yards (229 pass, 92 rush) and a rushing touchdown.

In Keeton's last healthy season in 2013, he threw 18 TD and only 2 INT, but in the past two injury-marred campaigns, the fifth-year senior has just 5 TD and 10 INT. The team's No. 1 target is senior WR Hunter Sharp who has exploded for 27 catches, 344 yards and 4 TD over the past three games.

On the ground, the Aggies rely most heavily on junior RB Devante Mays (153 carries, 842 yds, 5.5 YPC, 9 TD) who has carried the football at least a dozen times in six straight games, and ripped off 133 yards and 2 TD in the team's most recent win on Nov. 21 versus Nevada.

Defensively, Utah State has allowed a respectable 27.0 PPG on 337 total YPG this year, but those numbers have ballooned to 37.7 PPG on 401 total YPG in the past three contests. For the season, opponents have rushed for 156 YPG on 3.7 YPC, while passing for 180 YPG on 7.0 YPA. What the Aggies haven't done well lately is create turnovers, as they have just three takeaways over the past six games combined, which is a far cry from their 17 turnovers in the previous four contests.

TOLEDO ROCKETS (9-2) vs. TEMPLE OWLS (10-3)

Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium - Boca Raton, FL
Kickoff: Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Temple -2, Total: 49.5

Toledo and No. 24 Temple, two teams hoping to bounce back from disappointing results, will escape the cold weather and square off in Boca Raton, FL on Tuesday night.

The Rockets (8-2-1 ATS) missed out on a chance to play in the MAC title game with a 35-30 home loss to Western Michigan while the Owls (9-4 ATS) were beaten 24-13 by Houston in the AAC Championship.

These schools have met six times since 1998, and all six contests have been decided by 12 or more points with Toledo as the big winner in five of these matchups.

Rockets head coach Matt Campbell left for Iowa State, and the team promoted OC Jason Candle to direct the team in this postseason tilt. Toledo is 6-1 ATS since 2013 when the total is between 49.5 and 56 points, and is also 5-1 ATS this season after committing less than two turnovers in a game.

However, Temple is 44-23 ATS off one or more consecutive Unders since 1992 and is facing an opponent that is 0-7 ATS since 2013 after allowing 6.25+ yards per play in its previous game. There are no significant injuries for either school in this matchup.

Toledo's offense is quite potent this season with 35.3 PPG and 464 total YPG, and those numbers are just as strong (32.6 PPG, 456 total YPG) away from home where it has a perfect 5-0 record (SU and ATS).

The Rockets are known more for their air attack that gains 250 YPG on 7.2 YPA, but they also run the football quite well with 214 YPG on 5.1 YPC.

Both RBs Kareem Hunt (894 rush yds, 5.5 YPC, 10 TD) and Terry Swanson (870 rush yds, 6.6 YPC, 7 TD) are very capable of chewing up yards. The 225-pound junior Hunt has strung together four straight games of 110+ rushing yards, totaling 545 yards and 7 TD during this streak.

The 202-pound sophomore Swanson has four games of at least 115 yards this season and has scored a touchdown in five of the past seven contests. If the ground game falters, QB Phillip Ely (55% completions, 2,680 yds, 21 TD, 10 INT) is a capable passer with at least eight games of 200+ passing yards this season.

In the past three games he has thrown 5 TD with only 1 INT. Toledo's defense sometimes gets overshadowed by the offense, but the unit does a nice job in limiting teams to 21.1 PPG on 379 total YPG.

The run-stop unit is outstanding, as it gives up only 118 YPG on 3.4 YPC, but the secondary is more generous with 261 YPG on 6.6 YPA. The unit has forced nine turnovers in the past four games, but the Owls have only six giveaways in the past seven games combined.

Temple is scoring 30.8 PPG on 369 total YPG this season, but those points have fallen greatly in the past three games to 23.7 PPG despite a solid 389 total YPG. The Owls are a balanced offense that averages a beefy 33:01 time of possession due to a ground game piling up 154 YPG on 4.1 YPC. The passing game can also move the chains with a 57% completion rate leading to 215 YPG on 7.1 YPA.

Junior QB P.J. Walker has thrown for 2,737 yards (7.0 YPA), 19 TD and 7 INT this season, which is a huge improvement from his miserable ratio of 13 TD and 15 INT from a year ago. Walker has thrown at least one touchdown in 12 straight games, including 9 TD and 3 INT over the past five games.

His top target is senior WR Robby Anderson (64 rec, 873 yds, 7 TD), who is coming off a season-high 150 yards on 12 receptions and a touchdown in the AAC title game loss at Houston. But for Temple to win this football, game, junior RB Jahad Thomas (1,257 rush yds, 4.7 YPC, 17 TD) will need to step up like he did earlier in the season when he had four 100-yard efforts in the first six games.

Over the past seven contests, Thomas has just one game at the century mark, when he rumbled for 119 yards (6.0 YPC) and 2 TD in a win over UConn.

Defensively, the Owls limit teams to 19.2 PPG on 329 total YPG, and those numbers have improved to 13.0 PPG on 236 total YPG in the past three contests, which is impressive since the unit has forced just two turnovers in this timeframe.

The run-stop unit is particularly stingy in holding teams to 126 YPG on 3.8 YPC, while the passing defense allows 203 YPG on 6.0 YPA.

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


TOL at TEM 07:00 PM

TOL +2.5 TRIPLE PLAY

O 49.5 BLOW OUT

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF
Dunkel

Bowl Season


Boise State @ Northern Illinois

Game 217-218
December 23, 2015 @ 4:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boise State
91.859
Northern Illinois
85.348
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boise State
by 6 1/2
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boise State
by 9
56
[B]Dunkel Pick:
Northern Illinois
(+9); Under

Georgia Southern @ Bowling Green

Game 219-220
December 23, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Georgia Southern
95.505
Bowling Green
99.462
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Bowling Green
by 4
61
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Bowling Green
by 8
66 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Georgia Southern
(+8); Under

-----------------------------

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego, Dec 23

Boise State lost its last two home games, allowed 29.5 ppg in last four overall; Broncos won four of last five bowls, with average total in last four 63.8- they covered two of last three as bowl favorite. Northern Illinois lost its last three bowls by average score of 35-16. Huskies are 1-3 vs bowl teams this season; they're 8-0 when scoring 27+ points, 0-5 when they score less. NIU lost last two games, to Ohio/bowling Green. MAC non-conference underdogs are 19-9 vs spread this season; MW favorites are 1-7.

GoDaddy Bowl, Mobile

Georgia Southern-Bowling Green both lost their head coaches already; not a lot of similarity after that. GSU is playing in its first bowl, in its second year of I-A ball- they're 8-0 when running ball for 325+ yards- they were held to 233 or less YR in all four losses, are 2-2 as underdogs this year. BG won nine of last ten games, with last seven wins all by 14+ points. Falcons beat USA 33-28 LY to snap 4-game bowl losing streak. MAC non-conference favorites are 5-5 vs spread; Sun Belt underdogs are 12-11 against the spread.

---------------------------

NCAAF

Wednesday, December 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday's college football bowl games betting preview
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boise State has gone 5-0 against the spread in their last five games versus team from the MAC.


San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

Game played at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Boise State Broncos vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (+8, 56)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL STORYLINES

1. Two teams that had loftier expectations will share the gridiron when Boise State squares off with Northern Illinois in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Boise State was looking to repeat as the Group of Five's representative in a New Year's Six bowl but the Broncos underachieved with three losses in Mountain West play and stand at 8-4. The Huskies had similar aspirations after five consecutive seasons of 11 or more victories but are now attempting to avoid their first six-loss season since 2009.

2. Boise State is averaging 37.8 points behind freshman quarterback Brett Rypien, who was in line to redshirt in his first season on campus until sophomore Ryan Finley suffered a season-ending ankle injury. The nephew of former Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien was ready for the challenge and passed for 2,973 yards and 17 touchdowns while winning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. Northern Illinois has done some quarterback shuffling of its own as junior starter Drew Hare (Achilles' tendon) and redshirt freshman backup Ryan Graham (leg) both were injured and freshman Tommy Fiedler is currently slated to make his second career start.

3. Huskies sophomore cornerback Shawun Lurry stands just 5-8 but he is a player quarterbacks are learning to avoid as he leads the nation with nine interceptions and is averaging 30.3 yards per return. "It just comes from practicing hard every day and taking practice seriously and the (defensive) line putting pressure on the quarterback," Lurry recently told reporters. "When they do that, the quarterback just throws the ball up in the air and I’ll be in the right area sometimes and I get it." The Broncos (22) have even more interceptions than Northern Illinois (21) and feature senior safety Darian Thompson, who had five picks this season and is the Mountain West's all-time leader with 19.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Books opened NIU as 8.5-point dogs but that has moved to +8. The total opened at 56.

INJURY REPORT:

Boise State - WR Shane Williams-Rhodes (Probable, ankle), CB Donte Deayon (Probable, knee), WR Austin Cottrell (Questionable, leg), S Darian Thompson (Questionable, concussion), QB Ryan Finley (Out indefinitely, ankle), TE David Lucero (Out indefinitely, suspension), WR Akilian Butler (Out indefinitely, undisclosed), S Dylan Sumner-Gardner (Out indefinitely, ankle), OL Rees Odhiambo (Out for season, ankle), Gabe Perez (Out for season, shoulder).

Northern Illinois - QB Ryan Graham (Probable, leg), WR Tommylee Lewis (Questionable, ankle), DT Corey Thomas (Out for season, knee), QB Drew Hare (Out for season, lower body).

WEATHER INFO: Temperatures in the low-60s under partly cloudy skies.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS, 6-6 O/U): Sophomore running back Jeremy McNichols is tied for the national lead with 23 touchdowns (18 rushing, five receiving) and has rushed for 1,244 yards while posting seven 100-yard performances. Junior receiver Thomas Sperbeck leads the Mountain West in receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,334) - with the latter total breaking the school single-season mark set by Titus Young (1,210 in 2010). Thompson and senior cornerback Donte Deayon (17 career interceptions, four this season) head the secondary while junior defensive end Kamalei Correa has a team-leading five sacks for a unit with 28 takeaways.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (8-5 SU, 7-4-2 ATS, 6-7 O/U): The Huskies figure to give junior running back Joel Bouagnon (1,269 yards, 18 touchdowns) a heavy workload to help take pressure off Fiedler, who was 12-of-28 for 152 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in a 34-14 loss to Bowling Green in the MAC title game. Junior receiver Kenny Golladay (71 receptions for 1,122 yards and 10 touchdowns) is a big-play threat on offense while MAC Special Teams Player of the Year Aregeros Turner - a junior - averages 25.2 yards with one touchdown on kickoff returns. Senior middle linebacker Boomer Mays (108 tackles) and senior defensive end Perez Ford (five sacks) join Lurry as the headliners on a defense that forced 27 turnovers.

TRENDS:

* Broncos are 1-4 ATS in their last five games in December.
* Huskies are 2-6 ATS in their last eight bowl games.
* Under is 5-2 in Broncos last seven vs. MAC.
* Under is 12-5 in Huskies last 17 neutral site games.

CONSENSUS: Fifty-three percent of users are backing the Broncos.




Godaddy Bowl

Game played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Bowling Green Falcons (-7.5, 64)

GODADDY BOWL STORYLINES

1. With one of the most dynamic quarterback-wide receiver tandems in the game, MAC champion Bowling Green will be looking to match a school record for wins set in 2003 when it faces Georgia Southern on Dec. 23 in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Dino Babers posted an 8-6 record in his first season at the helm in 2014, and now has the Falcons on the verge of consecutive bowl wins for the second time in school history (2003-04). Bowling Green ranks in the top five in FBS in scoring (43.4 points per game), passing offense (376 yards per game) and total offense (561 yards per game).

2. Led by second-year coach Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern is making its first bowl appearance in its first year of bowl eligibility. A power in the Division I-AA ranks, the Eagles won national championships in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000. Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Conference with a perfect 8-0 record last season and finished third this season, and the Eagles took Georgia to overtime before falling 23-17 on Nov. 21.

3. Bowling Green and Georgia Southern enter with drastically different offensive approaches. The Falcons boast one of the most potent passing games in the country with MAC Offensive Player of the Year Matt Johnson throwing to Paul Warfield Award-winning wide receiver Roger Lewis. The Eagles, on the other hand, rely on a triple-option run attack that averages 355 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry and received a combined 2,320 yards from Matt Breida and L.A. Ramsby.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Books opened Bowling Green as a 7.5-point favorite. The total is down to 64 from the opening 66.

INJURY REPORT:

Georgia Southern - OL Roscoe Byrd (Questionable, undisclosed).

Bowling Green - RB Donovan Wilson (Questionable, undisclosed), DL Mike Minns (Out, suspension), OL Christian Piazza (Out for season, undisclosed), K Anthony Farinella (Out indefinitely, back), DL Gus Schwieterman (Out for season, foot).

WEATHER INFO: Temperatures in the low-70s with an 87 percent chance of thunderstorms. Wind is expected to blow toward the north endzone at around 10 miles per hour.

ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (8-4 SU, 8-4 ATS, 5-7 O/U): A potent running attack has allowed the Eagles to top 40 points seven times this season and is led by the 5-11, 190-pound junior Breida, who has rushed for 1,540 yards, 16 touchdowns and an 8.2 yards-per-carry average. Georgia Southern threw just 129 passes all season and sophomore Kevin Ellison enters having completed only 44 percent of his 84 passes for 532 yards and three touchdowns against five interceptions. The Eagles yield 23 points per contest and 204 passing yards per game but have recorded just 21 sacks.

ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (10-3 SU, 10-3 ATS, 6-7 O/U): Johnson, who has completed 368-of-535 passes for 43 touchdowns against eight interceptions, leads FBS with 4,700 yards passing and ranks eighth in passer efficiency rating (166.1). Lewis caught 82 passes for an FBS-high 1,476 yards and joins Ryan Burbrink (56 catches, 627 yards) and Ronnie Moore (67 catches, 871 yards) as receivers who have recorded 2,000 yards receiving in their careers. Running backs Travis Greene (1,219 yards) and Fred Coppet (797) have combined for 19 TDs and 5.8 yards per carry.

TRENDS:

* Eagles are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.
* Falcons are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Eagles last six games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Falcons last four bowl games.

CONSENSUS: Seventy percent of users are backing the Falcons.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF

Wednesday, December 23


The Boise State Broncos are 5-2 ATS over their last seven bowl games.


The Huskies are just 2-6 ATS over their last eight bowl games while current head coach Rod Carey is 0-3 both SU and ATS in postseason play.


The Falcons are 4-0 ATS over their last 4 games against opponents from the Sun Belt Conference and 7-1 ATS over their last 8 games overall.

[StarDust Bum]

CFB FIRST HALF

CFB > (217) BOISE ST@ (218) N ILLINOIS | 2015-12-23 16:30:00 - 2015-12-23 16:30:00
Play ON BOISE ST ?>in the first halfin All games in non-conference games
The record is 9 Wins and 0 Losses for the last two seasons (+9 units)

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Bowl Tip Sheet
December 22, 2015


**Boise State vs. Northern Illinois**

-- Two of the nation’s best college football programs that aren’t from Power Five Conferences will collide Wednesday afternoon at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. We’re talking about Boise State and Northern Illinois, both of whom are trying to salvage otherwise so-so seasons for their standards. As of Tuesday afternoon, most betting shops had Boise State (8-4 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) installed as an eight-point favorite with a total of 56 points. The Huskies are +275 on the money line (risk $100 to win $275).

-- Boise State went 12-2 and beat Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl last season in the first year of Bryan Harsin’s tenure. However, BSU took a couple of steps back this year, losing consecutive home games in November as a double-digit favorite. The Broncos were favored by 31 points vs. New Mexico on Nov. 14, but the Lobos invaded the blue carpet and snagged a 31-24 win in a stunning upset. Then on Nov. 20 at home again, it was Air Force that took its turn at prevailed in the smurf turf with a 37-30 triumph as a 10.5-point underdog.

-- Boise State would bounce back to win 40-23 at San Jose State as an eight-point road ‘chalk’ in its regular-season finale. But it left the Broncos at 5-3 in MWC play and the Falcons beat them out with the head-to-head tiebreaker to make the MWC Championship Game. In the win over the Spartans, Brett Rypien completed 25-of-33 throws for 197 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Jeremy McNichols rushed 20 times for 192 yards and a pair of TDs. The sophomore RB also had six catches for 40 yards and one TD.

-- Rypien was expected to redshirt as a true freshman, but that changed when starting QB Ryan Finley went down with a season-ending injury in September. Rypien, the nephew of Washington Redskins great Mark Rypien, completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,973 yards with a 17/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His favorite target is Thomas Sperbeck, who had 82 receptions for 1,334 yards and eight TDs. Shane Williams-Rhodes has 54 catches for 427 yards.

-- BSU’s offense is led by McNicholls, who rushed for 1,244 yards and 18 TDs with a 5.6 yards-per-carry average. McNicholls also produced 46 catches for 364 yards and five TDs. Kelsey Young is a quality back-up RB who has run for 457 yards and seven TDs with a 5.0 YPC average.

-- BSU was a single-digit favorite three times this year, going 1-2 both SU and ATS.

-- Northern Illinois (8-5 SU, 7-4 ATS) had won 11 games or more for five straight seasons until losing four regular-season game and losing in the MAC Championship Game. In fairness to the Huskies, we should note that they suffered two of their losses after star QB Drew Hare was lost for the season to a broken leg. In addition, they dropped a pair of one-possession games at Ohio State (20-13) and at Boston College (17-14).

-- NIU won six in a row and handed Toledo its first loss of the season at the Glass Bowl as a seven-point underdog on Nov. 3. Hare sustained the injury in the first half, but the Huskies were able to capture a 32-27 victory nonetheless. Redshirt freshman Ryan Graham filled in well for Hare and led NIU to a pair of subsequent wins before getting injured in a 26-21 home loss to Ohio in the regular-season finale.

-- With Graham out against Bowling Green in the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Tommy Fiedler made his first career start at QB. Fiedler struggled mightily against the Falcons, completed only 12-of-28 passes for 152 yards with one TD pass and three interceptions. He was only able to produce 22 rushing yards on 14 carries. Fortunately for NIU, Graham is back from his MCL injury and is expected to start. Like Rypien, Graham is the nephew of a former NFL QB in Kent Graham. Graham has connected on 59.3 percent of his passes for 653 yards with a 6/3 TD-INT ratio. He has rushed for 153 yards.

-- NIU’s Joel Bouagnon has rushed for 1,270 yards and 18 TDs while averaging 4.6 YPC. RB Jordan Huff also gets plenty of touches, rushing for 640 yards and eight TDs while averaging 7.9 YPC. The Huskies top WR is Kenny Golladay, who has 71 receptions for 1,122 yards and 10 TDs.

-- NIU sophomore CB Shawun Lurry led the nation with nine interceptions and averaged 30.3 yards per return. Lurry also recorded 39 tackles and 14 passes broken up. He has a pick-six in the loss to Bowling Green the last time out.

-- NIU compiled a 2-1-1 spread record in four games as an underdog this year. Going back to 2004, the Huskies are 27-15-1 ATS as ’dogs.

-- BSU senior safety Darian Thompson became the Mountain West Conference’s all-time leader in career interceptions this year. Thompson picked off five passes to bring his career total to 19. The Broncos had more interceptions (22) than the Huskies (21).

-- The ‘under’ is 7-6 overall for NIU after cashing in three straight games and four of its last five. The Huskies have seen their games average combined scores of 58.5 points per game.

-- Totals have been an overall wash (6-6) for BSU, but the ‘over’ has hit in back-to-back games and three of its last four.

-- ESPN will have the telecast at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

**Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green**

-- The Sun Belt Conference and the MAC will be represented at this year’s GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Weather could be a factor with an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms and with wind in the 15-25 miles-per-hour range.

-- As of Tuesday, most spots had Bowling Green listed as a seven-point favorite with a total of 64. The Eagles are +240 on the money line (risk $100 to win $240).

-- Bowling Green (10-3 SU, 10-3 ATS) won the MAC thanks to the aforementioned win over NIU. The Falcons have won nine of their last 10 games, going 8-2 versus the number. They have been single-digit ‘chalk’ three times, compiling a 2-1 spread record.

-- The successful season led to head coach Dino Babers being tabbed as Syracuse’s next HC. Therefore, defensive coordinator Brian Ward has been named the interim head coach even though he’ll join Babers shortly to become the DC for the ‘Cuse.

-- Bowling Green is led by senior QB Matt Johnson, who returned from a torn ACL suffered in Week 2 of 2014 to lead the nation in passing yards (4,700). Johnson, who was named the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year, completed 368-of-535 passes (68.8%) with a 43/8 TD-INT ratio. Johnson’s favorite target is sophomore WR Roger Lewis, who won the Paul Warfield Award thanks to 82 receptions for an FBS-best 1,476 yards and 15 TDs. Gehrig Dieter hauled in 89 catches for 957 yards and nine TDs, while Ronnie Moore caught 67 balls for 868 yards and five TDs.

-- Bowling Green can get it done on the ground, too. Travis Greene has rushed for 1,219 yards and 14 TDs while averaging 5.8 YPC. He also has 27 catches for 237 yards and a pair of TDs. Fred Coppet is more-than-capable back-up, rushing for 797 yards and five TDs while averaging 5.9 YPC.

-- Bowling Green is fourth in the nation in total offense, third in passing and fifth in scoring with a 43.4 PPG average. Defense is another story, however, as the Falcons are 78th in total defense, 94th against the pass and 55th versus the run.

-- Georgia Southern (8-4 SU, 8-4 ATS) has thrived as an underdog through the years, although it has just a 2-2 spread record with one outright win in four such spots this season. Going back to 2010, the Eagles are 8-3 ATS as underdogs. This will be their first bowl game in school history, but it just their second season at the FBS level. They won Division I-AA national titles six times from 1985-2000.

-- Just like it did with Tracy Ham under center for its first two national titles in 1985 and ’86, Georgia Southern continues to run the triple-option running attack. Junior QB Kevin Ellison runs the show these days, rushing for 642 yards and eight TDs while averaging 6.4 YPC this year. He completed only 37-of-84 passes for 532 yards with an abysmal 3/5 TD-INT ratio. Junior Favian Upshaw gets plenty of snaps as well and started the first two games when Ellison was suspended. Upshaw has run for 384 yards and two TDs while averaging 5.6 YPC. He has connected on just 40 percent of his throws for 210 yards with five interceptions and zero TD passes.

-- Junior RB Matt Breida leads GSU with 1,540 rushing yards and 16 TDs. Breida averages an eye-popping 8.1 YPC. Breida had seven games with 137 rushing yards or more and ran for a season-high 205 yards in a 37-13 win vs. Texas State L.A. Ramsby carries a big load as well, evidenced by 772 rushing yards, 12 TDs and a 5.0 YPC average.

-- Georgia Southern faced a pair of Power Five schools this year, losing 44-0 at West Va. in the opener when Ellison wasn’t in uniform. Then on Nov. 21, the Eagles took Georgia to overtime in Athens before dropping a 23-17 decision as 13-point underdogs. The regular-season finale was a colossal disappointment for GSU, as it was drilled by Georgia State 34-7 as a 20.5-point home favorite in Statesboro.

-- The ‘under’ is 5-1 in the Eagles’ last six games to improve to 7-5 overall. They have seen their games average combined scores of 57.9 PPG.

-- The ‘under’ has cashed in four consecutive Bowling Green games to improve to 7-6 overall. The Falcons have seen their games average combined scores of 70.1 PPG.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

[StarDust Bum]

Poinsettia Bowl capsule
December 22, 2015

Boise State (8-4) vs. Northern Illinois (8-5), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Boise State by 8 1/2.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Boise State seniors want to get their 40th victory. NIU wants to break a two-game losing streak and win for the first time in three Poinsettia Bowl appearances.

KEY MATCHUP

BSU's offensive line against NIU's defensive line. The Broncos will be trying to open holes for Jeremy McNichols, who rushed for 1,244 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Boise State: Wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck had 82 catches for a school single-season record 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns. He needs seven catches to break Matt Miller's 2013 team record of 88.

Northern Illinois: RB Joel Bouagnon was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team after rushing for 1,269 yards and 18 touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

BSU is playing in its 14th straight bowl while NIU is playing in its eighth straight. ... NIU is in its third Poinsettia Bowl; BSU will make its second apperance. ... The Huskies have played in Boise, Idaho, but never played BSU. They beat Fresno State 40-17 in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl (now the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl). ... Boise State lists 44 players from California on its roster, including three from the San Diego area. ... Boise State will wear white jerseys as the visitors, but otherwise is keeping its uniform combination secret until game day. The Broncos uniform roster includes four different helmets, five jerseys and five pants.

[StarDust Bum]

GoDaddy Bowl Capsule
December 22, 2015

Bowling Green (10-3, 7-1 MAC) vs. Georgia Southern (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt), 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Line: Bowling Green by 7.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Bowling Green and Georgia Southern are both in state of transition after each head coach - Bowling Green's Dino Babers (Syracuse) and Georgia Southern's Willie Fritz (Tulane) - took a new job since the end of the regular season. Bowling Green has been one of the better programs in the MAC for several years while Georgia Southern is playing in its first bowl game since recently joining the Football Bowl Subdivision.

KEY MATCHUP

Georgia Southern's offense vs. Bowling Green's offense: Both these teams are very successful on offense, but go about scoring their points in vastly different ways. Georgia Southern is one of the nation's elite running teams, using a triple-option offense that's rarely seen in today's college game. Bowling Green loves to get its work done through the air - QB Matt Johnson has thrown for a 4,700 yards this season and spreads the ball to several receivers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bowling Green: WR Roger Lewis: The Falcons have several good receiver, but Lewis is Johnson's best big-play threat. He's caught 82 passes for 1,476 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Georgia Southern: RB Matt Breida: He's been the most productive in the Eagles' backfield with 1,586 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. He's averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

FACTS & FIGURES

Bowling Green's Johnson had the most passing yards (4,700) of any FBS quarterback before bowl season. Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty passed him with 5,055 passed him earlier this week, but Johnson can regain the lead with a good performance against Georgia Southern. The 356 yards passing he needs is below his season average. ... Bowling Green is trying to earn its 11th win of the season, which would tie a school record. ... Georgia Southern's 355.6 yards rushing per game ranks first in the country by a wide margin. Air Force is in second place with 321.8 yards per game. ... Bowling Green's interim coach for the bowl is defensive coordinator Brian Ward while Georgia Southern will be led by assistant head coach/running backs coach Dell McGee. ... Bowling Green's new head coach next year will be Mike Jinks, who was the associate head coach and running backs coach at Texas Tech. Georgia Southern recently hired Tyson Summers, who was the defensive coordinator at Colorado State.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Bowl Action
December 22, 2015


BOISE STATE BRONCOS (8-4) vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (8-5)

Poinsettia Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA
Kickoff: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Boise State -8.5, Total: 56

Two eight-win teams missing No. 1 quarterbacks will meet in San Diego on Wednesday afternoon when Boise State takes on Northern Illinois.

The Broncos (6-6 ATS) have been without QB Ryan Finley (ankle) for most of the year, while the Huskies (8-4-1 ATS) saw top QB Drew Hare rupture his Achilles tendon in November. Boise State has still piled up 37.7 PPG this year, including 40.3 PPG away from home, but NIU has a mere 35 points and six turnovers during a current two-game losing skid.

The Huskies have lost all three bowls under head coach Rod Carey, while the Broncos are 5-1 in their past six bowls, including head coach Bryan Harsin’s Fiesta Bowl win last season.

Although Boise State has dropped two of its past three games by allowing more than 30 points each to New Mexico and Air Force, the team is 33-12 ATS (73%) after two ATS losses in its previous three games since 1992, including a perfect 7-0 ATS under Harsin.

But Northern Illinois has thrived in the underdog role since 1992, going 49-31 ATS (61%), and benefits from its Wednesday opponent falling in the category of favorites of 3.5 to 10 points with a good rushing defense (125 or less rush YPG), after 5.5+ YPC in its previous game going 19-46 ATS (29%) in the past five seasons.

On the injury front, both teams have a pair of questionable players to deal with, as the Broncos might be without WR Austin Cottrell (leg) and DB Darian Thompson (concussion), while the Huskies could be missing QB Ryan Graham (leg) and WR Tommylee Lewis (knee).

Boise State averages 489 total YPG this season, and has topped 30 points in 11 straight contests, including seven games of 40+ points. The team is very balanced with season averages of 40 passes and 41 rushes per game, but is more efficient through the air (304 YPG, 7.5 YPA) than on the ground (184 YPG, 4.4 YPC).

Freshman QB Brett Rypien has done a great job all season with 2,976 passing yards (7.6 YPA), 17 TD and 7 INT. He has zero picks in seven of 10 games, and has thrown for at least two scores in four of the past five contests. His favorite target is junior WR Thomas Sperbeck (82 rec, 1,334 yds, 8 TD), who has more than 150 receiving yards in four of his past seven outings, including 281 yards on 20 catches versus New Mexico three games ago.

The Broncos also have a star ball carrier in sophomore RB Jeremy McNichols (1,244 rush yds, 5.6 YPC, 18 TD), who has a streak of seven straight 100-yard efforts, including 120+ yards in each of the past five contests. The elusive 5-foot-9, 205-pounder also has 46 catches for 364 yards and 5 TD to give him eight multi-touchdown games this season.

Although the Broncos have struggled to stop their past three opponents (30.3 PPG, 498 total YPG), they are still allowing only 21.3 PPG on 342 total YPG for the season. The run-stop unit has been outstanding in limiting teams to 118 YPG on 3.4 YPC, including 105 YPG and 3.0 YPC away from home.

The secondary has given up a respectable 224 passing YPG on 6.9 YPA this season, and the whole defense has benefitted greatly from 28 forced turnovers, including 10 over the past four games. This could be problematic for a Huskies offense that had five miscues in the last game.

Northern Illinois has turned the ball over at least twice in eight games during the 2015 campaign, but is still averaging a strong 33.0 PPG and 427 total YPG this season. Although the Huskies choose to run the football 62% of the time, resulting in 205 rushing YPG on 4.3 YPC, they have a mere 27:09 average time of possession.

The strong passing game tallies 222 YPG on 7.5 YPA this season, but NIU could be forced to start third-string QB Tommy Fiedler in this bowl game with No. 2 QB Ryan Graham (8.1 YPA, 6 TD, 3 INT) injured. The freshman Fiedler has played each of the past two games, where he has completed only 21-of-45 throws (47%) for 265 yards (5.9 YPA), 2 TD and 3 INT.

Whoever is under center will look often to top WR Kenny Golladay, who has caught 71 passes for 1,122 yards and 10 TD this year. Although the junior has more than 125 yards on four different occasions, he was held to one catch for 15 yards in the MAC Championship Game loss to Bowling Green. The bulk of the ball carrying belongs to RB Joel Bouagnon, who has rushed 275 times for 1,269 yards (4.6 YPC) and 18 touchdowns.

But in the past three weeks, the junior has been held to 164 yards on 51 carries (3.2 YPC). Considering how long the Huskies are on the field (32:51 per game), they have done a solid job in holding teams to 25.5 PPG and 400 total YPG.

They allow 167 YPG on the ground, but only 3.9 YPC, and of the 233 passing YPG they give up, opposing quarterbacks average a pedestrian 6.3 yards per attempt. Turnovers have also been huge for NIU, which has recorded multiple takeaways in five straight contests.

[StarDust Bum]

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


GASO at BGSU 08:00 PM

BGSU -5.0 TRIPLE PLAY

O 62.5 TRIPLE PLAY

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF

Thursday, December 24

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christmas Eve college football bowl games betting preview
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Aztecs are one of the hottest teams in the nation, winners of nine straight (8-1-1 ATS).


Popeyes Bahamas Bowl

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. Western Michigan Broncos (-5, 65)

Game to be played at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, Nassau Bahamas

Both Middle Tennessee and Western Michigan ended their regular seasons on a good note and look prepared to put up a boatload of points in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl on Christmas Eve. Led by quarterback Brent Stockstill, who set the Conference USA passing record for a freshman with 3,678 yards, the Blue Raiders overcame a 3-5 start with four straight wins down the stretch, the last two by a combined 69 points. The Broncos' balanced attack ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in total offense and helped get the squad past then-No. 24 Toledo 35-30 in the finale of the regular season Nov. 27.

Western Michigan features a dynamic receiving duo in Daniel Braverman and Corey Davis, the first tandem in the nation to go over 1,100 receiving yards in the same season since 2012. The pair combined for 23 touchdowns and helped lead a Broncos' offensive attack that ranks second in the nation in time of possession (34.5 minutes per game). Junior quarterback Zach Terrell threw for 3,225 yards, third in the MAC, with 27 touchdowns against eight interceptions, five of which occurred in the first two games of the season.

The Blue Raiders' defense struggled early on but was pivotal in slamming the door on opponents down the stretch, limiting their last two foes to a combined 14 points. Linebacker T.T. Barber (11.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks) and safety Kevin Byard (four interceptions in 11 games) were both all-conference selections for a unit that tied for second in the league in picks with 16. Offensively, the run game left something to be desired, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and failing to get a single player over 500 yards on the ground.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Western Michigan opened as 3.5-point favorites before getting bet to -3. Shortly after the line jumped two whole points back in the Broncos favor to -5 and got as high as -5.5, before settling back at -5. The total has been consistently bet up since opening at 62.5 and now sits at 65.

INJURY REPORT:

Middle Tennessee - LB A. Stewart (questionable Thursday, undisclosed), DE J. Jones (questionable Thursday, undisclosed), LB M. Harges (questionable Thursday, undisclosed), TE T. Barron (questionable Thursday, undisclosed), CB J. Cutrer (questionable Thursday, undisclosed), RB J. Bryson (doubtful Thursday, shoulder), OL D. Johnson (out Thursday, undisclosed).

Western Michigan - N/A.

WEATHER REPORT: It should be a beautiful day for football in the Bahamas with temperaures in the low 80's and a 10-12 mile per hour wind blowing from east to west.

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (7-5, 8-4 ATS, 4-8 O/U): Stockstill is the son of head coach Rick Stockstill, who has guided the program to five bowl games since taking over in 2006 but hasn't won one since the New Orleans Bowl in 2009. With his son in the fold and another freshman - wide receiver Richie James - as the other offensive star, the future is bright. James is one of three wideouts in FBS play to record 100 catches and one of 14 to reach the 1,200-yard mark.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (7-5, 7-5 ATS, 6-5-1 O/U): Head coach P.J. Fleck's name often comes up in discussions of coaching vacancies, and he will get a chance on national television to show off the progress he has made at Western Michigan. "This was kind of the year of the 'nevers,'" Fleck recently told the Detroit Free Press. "We’ve never been to back-to-back bowl games. We’re doing that. We never beat a Top 25 team. We’ve done that. We’ve never had back-to-back-to-back No. 1 (MAC) recruiting classes three years in a row. We’re doing that. But now, it’s a chance to have our first bowl win in the history of the program." Terrell threw for three touchdowns - all of them to Davis - in last year's loss to Air Force in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

TRENDS:

* Middle Tennessee is 4-0 ATS in its last four games overall.
* Western Michigan is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in December.
* Under is 5-0 in Middle Tennessee's last 5 games overall.
* Over is 4-1-1 in Western Michigan's last 6 non-conference games.

CONSENSUS: The public is siding with the Broncos in this matchup with 65 percent of wagers on Western Michigan. As for the total, 55 percent of wagers are on the over.



Hawai'i Bowl

San Diego State Aztecs vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (+3, 56.5)

Game to be played at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii

Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State will make its second trip to Hawaii in less than three months when its faces Cincinnati on Christmas Eve in the Hawai'i Bowl. The contest will be played at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium, which came under scrutiny last week when the U.S. women's national team cancelled its soccer match with Trinidad and Tobago, claiming poor field conditions and tweeting out photos of seams in the artificial turf coming apart, mainly on the sideline area. "We didn't have any problems when we played on it," Aztecs coach Rocky Long told the San Diego Union-Tribune of his team's 28-14 victory over the Rainbow Warriors on Oct. 10. "I don't think it was a concern when we were there."

San Diego State rolls into the game with the momentum of a nine-game winning streak, the third-longest active streak in the nation behind Clemson (16) and Alabama (10). That includes a perfect 8-0 mark in the Mountain West regular season and a 27-24 victory over Air Force in the 2015 Sports Authority MW Championship game at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 5. It was the 20th conference title in school history and second in the Mountain West era.

Cincinnati was a big preseason media favorite to win both the American Athletic Conference East Division and inaugural league title game. However, the Bearcats finished third in the East behind Temple and USF, which handed Cincinnati its worst loss of the season, 65-27, on Nov. 20. "(The Hawai'i Bowl is) one of the best bowls going," Bearcats coach Tommy Tuberville said. "I've coached in a lot of them, and unless you're playing for the national championship, what better place to spend the holidays than Hawaii?"

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Since opening as 2-point favorites, Cincinnati has seen no love as the line has not only jumped the fence, but gone all the way to San Diego State -3. The total has been bet down slightly since opening at 57, and is down to 56.5.

INJURY REPORT:

San Diego State - QB M. Smith (questionable Thursday, knee).

Cincinnati - WR J. Holton (questionable Thursday, hamstring), QB G. Kiel (out Thursday, personal).

WEATHER REPORT: It could be messy in Honolulu, with a 51 percent chance of rain showers and a 13-15 mile per hour wind gusting across the field from east to west. Temperatures will be high 70's at gametime.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (10-3, 7-5-1 ATS, 6-7 O/U): The big question for the Aztecs is whether starting quarterback Maxwell Smith, who passed for 1,529 yards and 13 touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions, will be able to make it back to play in the bowl game after tearing his left ACL in the regular season finale against Nevada. "I hope he gets ready," Long told Union-Tribune. "I'd love to see him start the game." If not, redshirt freshman Christian Chapman, who completed 9-of-14 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown in the championship game, will make his second college start and the Aztecs, who set a school-single season record with 3,061 rushing yards, will lean even more heavily on Donnel Pumphrey, the Mountain West's Offensive Player of the Year who has rushed for 1,554 yards and 16 TDs.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (7-5, 6-6 ATS, 6-6 O/U): The Bearcats bounced back from the ugly loss at USF to edge East Carolina, 19-16, on Andrew Gantz's 42-yard field goal on the final play of the game in their regular-season finale. Junior quarterback Gunner Kiel, who began his career at Notre Dame, has completed 206-of-316 passes for 2,777 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with senior wide receiver Shaq Washington, who set a school single-season receptions mark with 88 catches for 971 yards and six touchdowns, his top target. Senior Hosey Williams (727 yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Mike Boone (717 yards, 8 TDs) both topped the 700-yard rushing mark while junior linebacker Eric Wilson (103 tackles) leads a defense that ranked just 84th nationally and allowed 190.8 yards per game on the ground.

TRENDS:

* San Diego State is 0-7 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
* Cincinnati is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
* Under is 7-2 in San Diego State's last 9 non-conference games.
* Over is 4-1 in Cincinnati's last 5 Bowl games.

CONSENSUS: The action is fairly split in this bowl game according to the Consensus, with 56 percent of wagers on San Diego State. As for the total, 58 percent of wagers are on the total.